Air cooler



Oct. 14, 1941. A. H. WILKlNSON AIR COOLER Filed Feb. 28, 1938 4Sheets-Sheet l Alvin/H martow ATTOR N EYS WITNESS Oct. 14, 1941. A; H.WILKINS ON AIR COOLER Filed Feb. 28, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR myAmi a I ATTORNEYS Alvin ZZ mmwm Oct. 14, 1941; A. H. WILKIINSON AIRCOOLER 4 She ets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 28, 1938 WITNESS ATTORNEYS Oct. 14,1941. A. H. WILKINSON AIR COOLER Filed Feb. 2a, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4Allin/H ml/thw om WlTNESS Patented. Get. 14, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENToFFrc AIR COOLER Alvin H. Wilkinson, Tulsa, Okla. Application February28, 1938, Serial No. 193,174

1 Claim.

This invention relates to air coolers operating on the vaporizationprinciple produced by a partial vacuum, and has for the primary objectthe provision of a device of this character which will be economical tomanufacture, install and maintain in operation and which will beeflicient, durable and compact so that it may be used to coolcomparatively large spaces as well as a restricted or small space suchas the interior of an automobile body.

Withthese and other objects in view, this invention consists in certainnovel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts tobe hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had tothe following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1is a side elevation, partly in section, illustrating a cooling deviceconstructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view illustrating the device.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating a heatexchanger including an air vent pipe. r

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevation illustrating a modified form ofmy invention especially adaptable 'for installation on an automobile,the latter shown partially in section.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating a portionof the vacuum chamber and the liquid circulating pipe therefor.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevation showing another modification ofmy invention.

Figure '7 is afront elevation illustrating the same.

Figure 8 is a sectional View taken on line 8-8 of Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a side elevation, partly in section, illustrating the formof my invention shown in Figures 6 to 8 adapted to an automobile with aslight alteration of parts.

Figure 10 is a front elevation, partly in section, showing the form ofmy invention disclosed in Figure 9.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral I indicates a base onwhich is mounted a liquid supply tank 2, a vacuum chamber 3, a heatexchanger 4, a vacuum pump 5 driven by an electric motor 1 which alsodrives a fan 8 for circulating air relation to the heat exchanger forthe purpose of cooling the air. The liquid supply tank 2' has a fillingneck 9 and connected to the lower end of said tank is asupply pipe ll]leading to the vacuum chamber 3 and in which is located deflector I2 islocated in the vacuum chamber 3 slightly above the liquid level andlocated above the deflector in the vacuum chamber is a screen 13.

The vacuum pump 5 may be of any desired type and is connected to the topof the vacuum chamber by a pipe [4 so that a partial vacuum will beestablished in the upper portion of the vacuum chamber during theoperation of the vacuum pump, The exhaust of the vacuum pump 5 isconnected to the upper end of the liquid supply tank 2 by a pipe I5.

The heat exchanger 4 is arranged directly in front of the fan 8 so thatthe latter may draw or force air therethrough, depending on the type offan employed. The heat exchanger is in the form of a radiator consistingof upper and lower chambers l6 and I! connected by series of tubes [8forming a core through which the air may be drawn or forced by the fan.Instead of employing the tubes l8 any other form of core may be used. Inthis instance, the tubes 18 are shown as provided with fins or plates19. A pipe 20 connects the lower chamber l'l to the bottom of the vacuumtank 3 to allow the liquid in the vacuum tank to seek a level in theheat exchanger to the level of the liquid in said vacuum tank. A returnpipe 2| connects the upper chamber I6 with the vacuum chamber,discharging into the latter above the deflector I2 and below the screen-I3. An air vent pipe 22 equipped with a control valve 23 extends intothe chamber [1 in the form of a perforated portion 24 extendingsubstantially the full length of the chamber ll placing the lowerchamber [1 incommunication with atmospheric air. g

In operation, the fan and vacuum pump are driven by the electricmotor 1. Any suitable source of electrical energy may be employed forthe operation of the electric motor. The vacuum pump in operationcreates a partial vacuum in the upper portion of the vacuum chamber 3and the upper chamber it of the heat exchanger being in directcommunication therewith will also have a partial vacuum establishedtherein; Thispartial vacuum will bring about a flow of atmospheric airfrom the pipe 22 intl the lower chamber II through the liquid or watertherein and the air bubbling upwardly through the liquid or watervaporizes a portion of this water and also brings about circulation ofthe water in the chamber 3 and the heat exchanger. This lowers thetemperature of the water and the air and moisture with a certain amountof water passing upwardly through the tubes chills said tubes of theheatexchanger so that the air flowing between said tubes under'the influenceof the fan will have heat absorbed therefrom, consequently lowering thetemperature of the air. The air, vapor and water entering the chamber l6passes into the upper portion of the vacuum chamber 3 above thedeflector, condensation of vapor takes place to some extent which thewater falls over the deflector and returns to the liquid in the vacuumchamber below the deflector while the air and non-condensed vapor passthrough the screen, the latter acting to condense more of the vapor sothat the air reaching the supply tank 2 by way of the vacuum pump willonly contain a limited amount of vapor which may condense in the supplytank, the air exhausting to the a mosphere by the neck 9. Thus it willbe seen t at a cooling device constructed in accordance with theforegoing will be economical to manufacture and maintain in operationand will be efficient in the cooling of air within a room or likedevice.

The flow of liquid from the supply tank 2 to the vacuum chamber 3 willbe aided by the partial vacuum within said vacuum chamber and.

the level of the liquid in the vacuum chamber is controlled by the floatactuated valve II.

To adapt a cooling device of the character described to an automobile itwill be advantageous to make certain parts thereof compact which isclearly shown in Figures 4 and 5. In this form of my invention thevacuum chamber is indicated by the character 24 shown mounted on apartition 25 of an automobile body 26 and the upper end of said vacuumchamber is connectedto an intake manifold 21 of an internal combustionengine 28 employed for the propulsion of the automobile. Whenever theengine is in operation, a partial vacuum will be constant in the intakemanifold thereby establishing a partial vacuum in the vacuum chamber24'. The vacuum chamber is fed with water or some other suitable liquidby a supply pipe 29 having a float controlled valve 30. The supply pipe29 may be connected to any form of supply such as the tank 2 of the formof the invention shown in Figure 1, this tank being suitably mountedwithin some part of the body of the automobile. The pipe preferably ofthe type to operate 08 of the body of the automobile and is controlledby a switch 40 mounted on the instrument board. Whenwhich connects theintake manifold 21 to the vacuum chamber 24' is indicated by thecharacter 3| and has a cutoff valve 32 provided with a control 3|mounted on the instrument board of the motor vehicle.

The heat exchanger is indicated by the character 32' and is locatedwithin the body of the automobile and the return pipe .33 thereof isconnected to the vacuum chamber 24'. The heat exchanger 32 is of thetype shown in Figure 3 and the inlet pipe 34 thereof is connected to amanifold 35, a portion of which is disposed vertically and its lowerportion angularly, related and connected tothe vacuum chamber adjacentthe lower end of the latter. The level of the liquid-in the vacuumchamber seeks a corresponding level in the heat exchanger 32'. Enteringthe manifold 35 is an air vent pipe 36 having a control valve 31. Theelectric motor of this formot my invention is indicated by the thepartial vacuum formed above the liquid, the v ever it is desired to coolthe air in the automobile body, the circuit is closed to the electricnctor and the valve 32 is opened and with the engine 28 operating apartial vacuum is established in the vacuum chamber 24' and the upperportion of the heat exchanger. This brings about a flow of atmosphericair through the liquid of the manifold 35 and through the liquid of theheat exchanger. Said flow of air through the liquidalong with thedecreased surface tension due to partial vacuum brings about avaporization of some of the liquid and the circulation of the latter,consequently cooling the liquid. The air, vapor and a certain amount ofliquid passing through the heat exchanger back to the vacuum chambercools the tubes or core of the heat exchanger so that the air drawn orforced through the heat exchanger by the fan will be lowered intemperature, consequently cooling the interior of the automobile body.

Referring to my modified form of invention shown in Figures 6 to 8,inclusive, the heat exchanger is indicated by the character 4| andlocated below the latter is a liquid supply tank 42 having a fillingneck 43. The heat exchanger 4| is of the construction shown in Figure 3.The electric motor for driving the fan 44 of the heat exchanger isindicated by the character 45 which also drives the vacuum pump 46. Aliquid circulating pipe 41 of substantially U-shape has a portionthereof located below the supply tank 42 and includes vertical portions48, 49 and a hori- "zontal portion 50. The vertical portion 48 terphericair into the vertical portion 48 adjacent the lower end thereof. Theliquid feed pipe 54 connects the bottom of the supply tank 42 with thehorizontal portion 50 of the liquid circulating pipe 41. A pressureequalizing pipe 55 connects the vertical portion 49 of the liquidcirculating pipe to the top portion of the supply tank above the levelof the liquid therein. The vertical portion 49 of the liquid circulatingpipe 41 is connected to the lower end of what may be termed a scrubber56 in the form of a tank. The lower portion of the heat exchanger isconnected to the lower portion of the scrubber 56 by a return pipe 51.The vacuum pump 46 is connected tothe upper end of the scrubber 56 by apipe 58. With the pump 46 in operation a partial vacuum is establishedon the scrubber 55 and consequently the air will be partially withdrawnfrom the heat exchanger through the pipe 51. The flow of atmospheric airwill discharge from the lower end of the vent pipe 52 because the air isof lesser specific gravity than theliquid, and because of air will riseupwardly through the vertical portion 48 of the fluid circulating pipe41. The reduced pressure above the liquid, and the steady stream ofrising bubbles of air will lift the liquid therein, a certain amount ofthe water and air will spill into the upper portion of the heatexchanger wherein vaporization of some of the liquid takes place.

therefrom. The core of the heat exchanger is not flooded with liquid butonly a film oi liquid will flow "over the inner walls 01 the tubes ofthe core whereby maximum cooling of the air circulated relative to thecore by the fan will be had. The air along with the vapor given oil bythe film of liquid in the core and unvaporized liquid from the heatexchanger pass into the scrubber 50, The excess or unvaporized liquidpasses from the scrubber into the vertical portion 49 of the liquidcirculating pipe 41, while the air and vapor passes to the vacuum pumpand escapes therefrom by the latters exhaust. This form of the inventioncan be used for cooling the air in rooms or the air within the interiorof an automobile body. The last application of the invention isillustrated in Figures 9 and 10 of the drawings and when thus appliedthe vacuum pump is omitted and the upper-end of the scrubber 56 isconnected to the intake manifold of the engine bya pipejl having acutofl valve 62. Also, itis preferable that the supply tank 42 belocated below the floor boards of the automobile and properly insulatedagainst heat The supply tank when thus located has the vertical portionl 01' the circulating pipe ll extendi therethrough and is provided withports 83 and M. The port 64 is 10- 'cated above the level of the liquidin the su ly.

tank while the port it is located adjacent the bottomoi' the s pplytank. The operation of this form of the inventionis in accordance withthat described in connection with the form shown in Figures 6 to 8,inclusive.

What is claimed is:

.An air cooler comprising a combined vacuum and liquid chamber; a liquidchamber and maintaining a predetermined level of liquid therein, a heatexchanger, means for connecting said heat exchanger to said chamber,anairventpipeadmittingairtotheliquidtor passing therethrough andthroughthe heat exchanzer, a vacuum pump connected with said chamber, means toroperating said pump, a tan actuated by the last named means forthecirculation' of air relative to the heat exchanger,

an inverted conical-shaped deflector arranged in said'chamber above thelevel or the liquid, and a screen arranged in the chamber between thedeflector and, the upper end of the chamber.

' ALVIN H. WILKINSON.

supply for said

